Up early. Quick breakfast and then across to Dorchester for one of my regular meetings with Tri-Council CEO, the delightful and most able Matt Prosser. Cllr Jeff Cant, who heads the authority's management committee was also there. We all agreed that the lack of money from the LEP following Tranche 3 was bad news. I have called for a far more long term approach to future investment in Dorset and again we all agreed that it was time to act. In addition, the received no money for flood prevention which is serious as it prevents developers from investing in the town and marina area, which is much needed. Again, we all agreed that action was needed on that too. Personally, I think that plans for local government reorganisation are not helping as everyone's mind is on that, understandably so. We are lucky to have such a competent CEO, especially as the debate continues on what form local government will take in the future. Following my meeting, I headed out to Portland Bill to drop in on the volunteers of Coastwatch who man the tower there overlooking the race. These men and women are very special indeed and they volunteer to provide the eyes and ears for those who use the sea. Professionally trained and very competent, more than 70 watch-keepers fulfil this fantastic role all year round. I gratefully accepted the offer of a cup of tea and chatted to the three men for about an hour before I headed to Galton for my next meeting. This one was at the home of Ralph Messenger, the chairman of the local NFU branch. We have these meetings quarterly and it's a chance for me to listen to farmers' concerns and for me to pass on the latest policy from the Government. It was well attended and over coffee and biscuits we chatted for nearly two hours about all kinds of rural matters. The Minister, George Eustice, then gets a lengthy letter from me covering all the points we discussed. He responds very helpfully and I am hoping to get him down to Dorset soon to talk to farmers personally. Back to the office late afternoon before returning home to host some very old friends who were staying.